Spike.



M. LUNDIN.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6, 1913.

1,073,998. Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

aw-W14 case a recesses.

'cnrrnn s rnrns PATENT oration.

MARTHA LUNDIN, 0F BELLS, CALIFORNIA.

SPIKE.

Patented Sept. 23, it 91.3.

Application filed February 6, 1913. Serial No. 746,494.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTHA LUNDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bells, in the county of Los Angelcs and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends in'iprovcments in spikes and relates more particularly to railroad spikes having means for positively locking the same against more meat in one direction.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a spike having a hinged blade secured within a recess formed in the shank thereof, means for normally towing the free end of the blade out of said recess, and means whereby the blade may be held within the recess when the spike is being driven.

The invention also aims to provide a spike of this nature, which shall be of extremely simple construction, cheap to mannfacturc, reliable, and. commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in View, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a spike constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a front clcvation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View showing the locking blade in its operative position.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates, generally, a spike having a head (5 and a shank 7 The shank is provided with a rectangular recess 8 ex tending entirely across the inner face thereof and a longitudinal groove 9 which extends from the upper end of said recess to the head 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.. A. slot 10 somewhat less in width than the recess 8 opens upon the lower end of the same and has pivoted therein by means of the fastener 11, a locking blade 12. The upper end of the locking blade is inclined dowmvardly and inwardly, as indicated at 13. A conical spiral spring 14 is secured between the binds and the shank 7 by having its ends 15 and .16 secured respectively, in openings formed in said blade and shank, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

To provide for holding the blade 12 within the recess 8, as the spike is being driven, I secure a flexible connection 17 within the counter-sunk opening 18 formed in the blade 12, adjacent its upper edge. The flexible connection carried upwardly through the groove 9 between the pin 19 and the shank 5, then outwardly under the head (5 and finally through a notch 20 formed in said head. The end of the connection 17 is knotted, as indicated at 21, to secure the same within a notch 20. A cutting tooth 22 extends transversely across the side of the head 6 over the flexible connection 17.

\Vhen the spike is started into a cross tie, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the cutting tooth 22 is forced against one of the base flanges of a rail, said tooth will cut the flexible connection 17 so as to permit of the spring .17 :foreing the free end of the locking blade into the recess 8. When an endeavor is made to extract the spike from the tie, the sharp edge of the blade will engage the tie and prevent movement of the spike.

i %y having the locking blade secured within the recess, as the spike is being driven, it is not necessary to exert as much force upon the head 6 as would otherwise be the case. The blade is also protected against possible injury by being locked within its recess, as heretofore described.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that l have provided a very cheaply manufactured and reliable spike, which will be positively locked within any retaining surface.

While f have shown my invention as being embodied in a railroad spike, it is to be understood that 1' do not wish to be limited to this specific: application but may make such changes as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:--

1. A spike of the character described, having a recess formed in the shank thereof, a blade pivoted at its lower end within said recess, means for forcing the upper end of the blade normally out of the recess, the

shank being also formed with a longitudinal groove communicating with said recess and terminating at the head of the shank, a flexible connection attached at one end to the free extremity of said blade and extended upwardly through said groove and attached at its other end to the head of the shank,

means for holding said connection within the groove, and means for cutting the connection when the spike is driven home.

2. A spike comprising a shank and a head, said shank being formed upon its inner face with a recess, a retaining blade pivoted at its lower end within said recess, spring means adapted to force the free end of said blade normally out of the recess, the shank being also formed with a longitudinal groove communicating with the upper end of the recess and terminating at the head Copies of this patent may be obtained for of the shank, a pin extending transversely through the upper end of said groove, a cutting vtooth extending transversely across the under side of said head, said head being notched upon its inner edge, and a flexible connection secured at one end to the free extremity of said blade and at the other end within said notch, a flexible connection passing through the groove between the pin and the shank and under the cutting tooth, said flexible connection serving to hold the looking blade within the recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTHA LUNDIN.

Witnesses H. R. SHARP, HENRY HOFFMAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

